Insecurity: Zamfarans Decries Alleged Govt Sponsored Banditry, Petitions Gov Lawal

As the news of the latest banditry activity in Maradun area of Zamfara state is making rounds, lofty insights abound as deep investigative journalism has taken a centre stage concerning the prevailing Zamfara state insecurity menace.

An indigene of Maradun and an appointee of the Zamfara state Government (name withheld), has called on the Inspector General of Police to swiftly caution the Zamfara state Governor, Dauda Lawal on his recent resolve of playing politics at the expense of the lives of Zamfara state indigenes.

In a very interesting conversation, the state government appointee stated that attack was poorly scripted as every sane mind will first ask why was the State government House Press Bus sighted at the scene of attack just about 7 minutes after bandits struck.

Secondly, why was the attack within the neighbourhood of the Honourable Minister of State, Defence, Bello Matawalle’s home town?

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalleff, Matawalle

Thirdly, could it be that Matawalle and the Chief of Defence staff’s recent activities in the North west against bandits and terrorists has greatly hurt a cabal that has resolved for revenge?

“A situation whereby the state government sponsors criminals to attack a community just to discredit and smear the image of a political rival not minding the volume of casualties that maybe recorded as a result of such attack is highly condemnable,” the anonymous appointee stated.

He confirmed that most of those taken by bandits were vulnerable members of the community, particularly those who are not strong enough to run for their lives.

“Security agencies should investigate the attack and possibly be at alert to avert subsequent moves by state government sponsored attack agents as it is obvious that Governor Dauda is hell bent on proving a pointless point without recourse to the peace and safety of Zamfara state,” he concluded.

L-R: Zamfara state Governor Dauda Lawal and Chief of Defence staff, Matawalle 

It was reported that after the attack, Zamfara state Government through their media handlers inflated the number of the victims of casualty to 40 as Maradun citizens are perturbed as to why the state government is noted to be stylishly celebrating the attack.

Mr. Mohammed Dogo, a native of Maradun who gave an account of what happened revealed that there are more undercover revelations about the attack than mere words could explain.

He said the manner at which state government press officers was so quick to arrive the seen of attack with cameras instead of using such energy to activate security personnels to go after the bandits is questionable.

“I am a retired school teacher and a well respected elder here in my community, Janbako. The attack is most unfortunate as 2 persons lost their lives and 5 villagers were taken away, Dogo confirmed.

This attack happened over the weekend, few days after the Minister of state for Defence, Bello Matawalle challenged the Zamfara state Governor, Dauda Lawal and General Aliyu Gusau to swear with the Holy Quran of their innocence pertaining the issue of banditry and terrorism in Zamfara state.